Cancer and Diet

The consensus on diet and cancer is that obesity increases the risk of developing cancer. Particular dietary practices often explain differences in cancer incidence in different countries (e.g. gastric cancer is more common in Japan, while colon cancer is more common in the United States). Studies have shown that immigrants develop the risk of their new country, suggesting a link between diet and cancer rather than a genetic basis.

Despite frequent reports of particular substances (including foods) having a beneficial or detrimental effect on cancer risk, few of these have an established link to cancer. These reports are often based on studies in cultured cell media or animals. Public health recommendations cannot be made on the basis of these studies until they have been validated in an observational (or occasionally a prospective interventional) trial in humans.

The case of beta-carotene provides an example of the necessity of randomized clinical trials. Epidemiologists studying both diet and serum levels observed that high levels of beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, were associated with a protective effect, reducing the risk of cancer. This effect was particularly strong in lung cancer. This hypothesis led to a series of large randomized trials conducted in both Finland and the United States (CARET study) during the 1980s and 1990s. This study provided about 80,000 smokers or former smokers with daily supplements of beta-carotene or placebos. Contrary to expectation, these tests found no benefit of beta-carotene supplementation in reducing lung cancer incidence and mortality. In fact, the risk of lung cancer was slightly, but not significantly, increased by beta-carotene, leading to an early termination of the study.

However, Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) also have drawbacks in cancer prevention, particularly in micronutrient deficiencies, which are thought by some to be a major contributor to cancer. RCTs involve huge numbers of people, take many years to complete, and are therefore extremely expensive and complicated, and therefore few are done. In addition, these randomized clinical trials usually test only a single dose. An alternative, which is likely to be more useful, is to do shorter intervention trials focusing on other endpoints related to cancer, such as DNA damage. These trials can test a variety of doses on fewer people to determine what level of micronutrient intake (or, better, micronutrient concentration in blood) keeps DNA damage to a minimum.

High Blood Pressure Treatment - Medication, Diet and Alternative Therapies

Healthy lifestyle is the best treatment for high blood pressure

No drug can ever help you to win a battle against high blood pressure for good. The best they can do is to give a temporarily relief. However, by changing your lifestyle habits you can keep your blood pressure under control.

There are 3 major aspects of your life that affect blood pressure

• Exercise
• Diet
• Stress management

Making your heart beating slightly faster than normal from time to time is very important. This doesn’t mean you will have to go the gym every day. Many everyday things count as exercise - house chores, gardening, walking your dog or playing active games with your children are good examples. Walking is the best exercise for high blood pressure, even 15 minutes a day will do wonder.

Most important you should do some exercise every day.

Another essential thing you will have to evaluate is your diet. Do you like souses, pickles and pre-cooked meals? Than you will have to cut it down, because all of the above are extremely high in sodium and sodium affects blood pressure very badly. Add more veggies and fruits to your diet, remove your salt shaker from the table and you will feel much better as your blood pressure lowers.

Every time you stress out, your blood pressure jumps up. And if stress is a permanent part of your life it can constantly keep your readings high. Don’t ignore stress; there are many effective ways to deal with it. For example, you can enroll in a stress relief class or take a yoga or Tai Chi class. Try to find time to do things that you enjoy.

High blood pressure medication

When it comes to high blood pressure drugs, you should never get one without consulting a doctor. If a particular medicine works well for your friend it doesn’t mean it will suit you. Most high blood pressure drugs are prescription drugs, so the only way to get them is to visit your physician first and ask for prescription.

Medication used to control high blood pressure includes:

• ACE inhibitors
• Calcium channel blockers
• Beta-blockers
• Angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs)
• Alpha-blockers
• Diuretics

In the past a lot of high blood pressure medications were unsafe and had side effects. Luckily they improved in recent years, so modern drugs that help to lower your blood pressure are more effective and safe.

Alternative high blood pressure treatments

If you don’t trust conventional drugs and prefer alternative medicine, there are several treatments that can help to lower blood pressure.

Natural herbs for high blood pressure are very popular. Most effective are Hawthorn and Ginkgo Biloba. Several studies have shown that garlic also helps with hypertension control. Garlic thins the blood (reduces its ability to clot).

Garlic supplements work just as well as fresh garlic.

Among the alternative therapies, most common are acupuncture and magnetic high blood pressure therapy.

Acupuncture relaxes your body and releases some of the strain on the heart. There is no hard scientific proof that acupunctures works, but many people who tried it, swear that it helped to decrease their blood pressure.

Treatment with magnets can also help. Copper and iron bracelets reduce the effects of blood pressure, but scientists don’t know how and why. However, this treatment is painless and safe, so it is worth the try.

There are many ways to treat high blood pressure. You should never ignore it, because this condition doesn’t just go away unless you do something to control it.

Cut Fat, Lose Weight and Prevent Cancer

There's now yet another compelling reason to lose weight and cut consumption of unhealthy Omega-6 fats from vegetable sources. Research released from the Institute of Food Technologists indicates that as many as 1 in 3 cancer deaths could be prevented by reducing consumption of corn and vegetable oils and cutting calories.

It's important to understand that fat itself is not the enemy, as it's an essential nutrient required for normal cellular function. The problem arises when the balance of Omega-6 and Omega-3 fats are disproportional in our diet.

Humans have evolved with a 1:1 ratio of the two fat sources, yet our modern diet is closer to 20:1 in favor of Omega-6 fats. This causes a hormonal imbalance in the body which leads to inflammation, weight gain and increased risk of heart attack and many cancers. Monitoring Omega fat intake is an important first step which will assist with weight loss efforts and lead to reduced risk from many diseases.

Evolution Controls Our Diet

More than 750,000 people die from cancer annually, and the results from this study indicate that a quarter million lives could be spared with a concerted effort to control calories and Omega-6 fat consumption. Our genes are the product of thousands of years of evolution during times when Omega-3 fat sources such as fish and many nuts and seeds were plentiful. Every cell in our body relies on the critical Omega-3 components, EPA and DHA for replication and cell wall construction.

It's only been during the past half century that Omega-6 fats from corn and vegetable sources have become an ever increasing part of our diet, and have now distorted the natural evolutionary ratio we require for optimal health. Omega-6 fats are very stable, allowing food to sit on store shelves for extended periods, and are present in virtually all processed foods.

Lower Omega-6 Fats by Cutting Processed and Fast Foods

Omega-6 fats are present in virtually every processed food on store shelves, with up to 90% of fat calories in our diet coming from this health endangering source. Take a two step approach to reduce Omega-6 calories and improve the ratio with Omega-3 fats.

Eliminate or drastically reduce foods which are packed with Omega-6 fats, including all commercially baked products, fast foods and vegetable based cooking oils. Be especially mindful to cut any foods listing hydrogenated trans fats, as these increase the risk of heart disease by 25%.

Increase Omega-3 Fat Sources to Lower Inflammation

Replace Omega-6 laden foods with Omega-3 healthy options. The best Omega-3 source is fish, as it provides the perfect balance of DHA and EPA, the two primary Omega-3 fats. Fish Oil supplements are a good choice for people who don't enjoy fish.

Nuts and seeds also have smaller amounts of Omega-3 fats, with walnuts, flax and chia seeds rising to the top of the list. It's important to remember that food from any fat source still contains 9 calories per gram, so be careful when substituting and track your daily calories with nutritional software.

Research is beginning to uncover the hidden dangers in the unnatural processed foods which make up a large portion of the Western diet. We are continually reminded that the foods we eat have a direct and immediate impact on our future health and body weight.

Monitor your food choices carefully, paying close attention to the Omega fat ratios and switch to a reduced calorie lifestyle. You'll enjoy the healthy benefits of dramatically lowered risk of cancer and many illnesses while you naturally maintain a healthy weight.

Read More Expert Advice on Diet, Health and Nutrition, and Download your Free Weight Loss EBook! John Phillip is a Health Researcher and Author who writes regularly on the cutting edge use of diet, lifestyle modifications and targeted supplementation to enhance and improve the quality and length of life. John is the author of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan', a comprehensive EBook explaining how to use Diet, Exercise and Targeted Supplementation to achieve your Weight Loss goal. Visit My Optimal Health Resource to continue reading the latest health news updates, and to download your Free 48 page copy of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan'.

Low Calorie Snacks: Recipe Ideas for Tasty, Healthy Snacking Choices

Low calories snacks can be a great alternative when you’re trying to lose weight or maintain your weight. Of course, they aren’t always the most appetizing options available and often don’t keep you full enough to forgo other non-healthy items later in the day. The good news is there are many tasty and healthy low calories snacks for adults which can not only keep your taste buds happy but also keep you from getting hungry between meals.
Choose Filling Snack Foods: Studies show there are certain types of foods which can make you feel fuller for longer periods of time. If you want to stick to your diet program or plan, it’s important to feel full so you don’t binge between meals. Foods which are high in fiber are the best options, as scientists know fiber works with the body to keep you feeling full for longer periods of time.
Choose Simple and Easy Foods: If you have to take an hour for the preparation of your snack, chances are you won’t force yourself to eat it very often. After all, who has an hour each day to make snack? When thinking of snacks, choose recipes or preparations which require very little time. Easy options include fresh fruit and vegetables with low calorie yogurt dips. Keep these things available in your home or office so you can quickly grab them to satisfy your hunger without wrecking your diet plan.
Choose to Portion Control Healthy Snacks: When eating snack, portions count! So, keep your snacks in small portions to calm your craving but also keep you within your required low-calorie range. The best options to go for if you have trouble with portions are the pre-packaged 100 calorie options at your grocery store. Companies like Quaker and Nabisco make it easy for adults to get low calorie snacks without requiring much thought or effort. With these incredibly delicious and easy options, you have no excuses!
Choose Small Indulgences on Any Eating Plan or Diet: Sure, you can have a sweet or “forbidden” treat every now and again before or after your meal. But again, you must think about eating a small amount of high calorie foods, to turn them into a low calorie snack option. If you don’t think you can control yourself to eat just a small amount, skip it altogether.

Physical fitness

Physical fitness is used in two close meanings - general fitness (a state of health and well-being) and specific fitness (a task-oriented definition based on the ability to perform specific aspects of sports or occupations).
General fitness
Physical fitness is the result of regular exercise, proper diet and nutrition, and proper rest for physical recovery within the parameters allowed by the genome.
Physical fitness is often divided into the following types (in alphabetical order):
Accuracy
Agility
Balance
Body composition
Cardiovascular endurance
Coordination
Flexibility and joint range of motion
Strength
Power
Speed
Stamina
Many sources also cite mental and emotional health as an important part of overall fitness. This is often presented in textbooks as a triangle made up of three sub-sections which represent physical, emotional, and mental fitness. Hence, one may be physically fit but may still suffer from a mental illness or have emotional problems. The "ideal triangle" is balanced in all areas. Physical fitness can also prevent or treat many chronic health conditions brought on by unhealthy lifestyle or aging.
Specific fitness
Specific or task-oriented fitness is a person's ability to perform in a specific activity with a reasonable efficiency, for example, sports or military service. Specific training prepares athletes to perform well in their sports.
Examples are:
100m sprint - in a sprint the athlete must be trained to work anaerobically throughout the race.
Marathon - in this case the athlete must be trained to work aerobically and their endurance must be built-up to a maximum.
Fire fighters and police officers must undergo regular Fitness testing to determine if they are capable of the physically demanding tasks required for the job before they are employed. Students in elementary and high school also undergo regular fitness testing. In the Scouting programs of some countries, students can earn fitness badges, such as the Physical Fitness Badge which is earned in the United States.

Master Your Metabolism

In Master Your Metabolism, Jillian Michaels, well-known strength trainer for The Biggest Loser, delves into the world of metabolism and how hormones affect your ability to reach a healthy weight. In essence, the book provides readers with a three-phase plan based around engaging various hormones in a way that will help them lose those extra pounds. The diet itself is a restrictive, high protein, low fat diet providing an average of 1300 calories per day, with some recommended menus falling as low as 700 calories per day – or, almost fasting level.
The book, which can be a bit overwhelming with its technical medical terms, addresses the influences of hormone balance and how weight loss is affected by hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, insulin, cortisol, epinephrine, and leptin. Michael’s solution to proper hormone balance includes removing anti-nutrients from your diet, restoring foods that “speak” directly to your fat-burning genes, and rebalancing energy and hormones in order to achieve effortless weight loss.
To its credit, the book recommends natural foods, organically grown and unprocessed. It also includes practical information, such as online shopping resources, recipes, strategies for eating out, hormone-trigger food charts, and how to address things like menopause and PMS. However, the book also relies to a certain extent on demonizing certain foods; a tactic which has been proven ineffectual for evoking long-term change.
All in all, while one cannot go wrong with recommending a healthy diet and plenty of exercise, the evidence for Michael’s “friendly” and “unfriendly” hormones is not so clear. Further, the restrictiveness of the diet could itself result in binging and yo-yo dieting. Michael’s methods may work well for short-term weight loss, but they simply do not provide the necessary structure for a long-term life change. In conclusion, while Michaels has shown herself to be an amazing trainer, when considering the Master Your Metabolism diet, do so with caution.

Flat Belly Diet

Flat Belly Diet targets the millions of Americans who want to take a few inches off of their waistline. The writers, Liz Vaccariello and Cynthia Sass, both work for Prevention magazine; with Vaccariello (editor-in-chief) being the primary voice of the book and Sass (nutrition director) providing additional knowledge and insight.
In essence, the book promises a flatter belly and weight loss of up to 15 pounds in 32 days by following the diet plan. The diet itself is fashioned after the traditional diet of the Mediterranean – more specifically, the southern regions. It allows for 1600 calories per day, with an emphasis on wholesome, unrefined foods; including nuts, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, seeds, and lean protein. Red meat is restricted – only being allowed about once a month.
Before beginning the diet, dieters go on a four-day, anti-bloat, jump-start diet. The idea is to get dieters in the mindset for healthier eating while making them feel better by relieving bloating, constipation, and the general sluggishness that usually accompanies unhealthy eating. After the four-day period, dieters then start the 28-day program, with a focus on having a monounsaturated fat (MUFA) at every meal. This, according to the authors, is the secret to the Flat Belly Diet and what makes it different and more-successful. Exercise is optional, but encouraged.
All in all, Flat Belly Diet provides a fairly normal approach to dieting, with the addition of increased good fats (MUFA). There is no calorie-counting, which is a boon for many dieters. Instead, dieters choose from a list of 28 mix-and-match meal and snack plans. The book also includes 80 recipes, complete with nutritional analysis for each one. The drawbacks of Flat Belly Diet include 1) difficulty maintaining the weight loss rate after the initial 32 days, and 2) 1600 calories is too low for most people, which could result in binge eating and the yo-yo dieting effect.
If you decide to try Flat Belly Diet, we would recommend adjusting the calorie intake to meet or exceed your BMR and adding a fitness regime to start building muscle mass. Diet alone may help you lose weight, but exercise is essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Health Foods - Help in Acne Treatment and Prevention

While many skin care products do help in the treatment of acne, there are some foods that treat it from the inside, by providing good nutrition and natural detoxification. These foods ought to be an important component of any healthy diet. They include
Organic green tea - This contains large amounts of catechins, an anti-inflammatory chemical that combats the free radicals present in the environment and prevents the formation of wrinkles and fine lines.
Olive or sesame oils - These are two of the best cooking mediums because they contain monounsaturated fats as well as essential fatty acids that are good for your skin. They are an important part of your cell membranes and impart an inner glow to your skin.
Walnuts - Walnuts and other nuts contain large amounts of omega-3 oils, which are powerful antioxidants that keep your skin firm and smooth. Other foods such as salmon fish and flaxseed oil also contain omega-3 oils.
Berries - Cranberries, raspberries and blueberries are rich in phytochemicals that protect your skin cells against the ageing process.
Watermelon – Rub the rind of a watermelon for beautiful skin. This popular fruit is a great natural exfoliant and a rich source of vitamins A, B and C. Watermelon also contains plenty of water, which hydrates the skin and makes it appear younger. Massaging your skin gently with watermelon rind helps in stimulating lymphatic drainage.
Lemon juice - This works as a natural bleach and helps to eliminate freckles and sunspots. You can also use it as an exfoliant by rubbing a slice of lemon and some granulated sugar on your skin.
Low fat dairy products - Dairy products are some of the best sources of Vitamin A, the essential nutrient for a healthy skin.
Foods such as Brazil nuts, whole wheat bread, cereals, fish, meat and eggs are the commonly available sources of dietary selenium. High selenium levels in the body protect you from the harmful effects of excessive sun exposure and environmental toxins.

Tips to Get Rid of Acne From Your Skin

In this high tech era any information is still a click away. This is great news but there is also another side to this coin. The Internet is full of bad advice, myths and misinformation. So just as easy as it is for you to get information, it is easier for you to receive wrong information. That is why it is very important to do research from trust worthy websites and not from just any website you visit.Such bad information is aplenty for acne as well. In this article, I will provide you with some credible killer tips to get rid of acne.1. Build the momentum: Have you rolled a small ball of snow down the hill? What happens? You will find the small ball of snow picking up more snow as it rolls down getting bigger in size and gaining speed as it rolls down to eventually come crashing down as a big snow boulder. You can start doing the same by simultaneously doing a number of good things that will help accelerate the process of treating acne.Needless to say, you should consult your dermatologist before taking up any treatment options but most often you will find that a combination of treatment options work wonders. 2. Be prepared for failure: Not all treatment options will work for you. For example, following a good diet may not help you cure acne but it may help you from getting more acne. So in this case, it may still be worth continuing the diet.3. Persistence and Patience: The results take time so it is important to persevere with what you are doing. Over a longer duration of time- approximately 10 to 12 weeks, you should see positive results. Once you do see a difference, it is vital to keep continuing the treatment options so that you are not affected by acne again. Bonus Tip You Don't Want To Miss: If you are serious about getting rid of your acne and having a clear and beautiful skin then you need to Take action now.Don't let Acne take over your life!

Best Remedies For Sagging Skin

The best remedies for sagging skin are those that come from natural sources like plant extracts and things that occur in nature. Synthetic substances and chemicals are not good for your health or your skin and many that are commonly found in skin care products cause serious health problems. Skin starts to wrinkle, sag and become dull mainly because of a lack of nutrients and the natural loss of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid that occurs with age.
Poor diet, poor hydration, excess sun exposure and exposure to pollution and harsh chemicals accelerate the aging process dramatically. Fortunately, all of these things are under your control and you can easily remedy them all.
Some of the best remedies for sagging skin are to eat a well-balanced diet, supplement with vitamins, drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, and always protect your skin from sun, chemicals and pollution. The collagen and elastin loss can be remedied as well. Contrary to popular belief (and marketing claims) simply applying a product that contains collagen and elastin to the skin is not going to help.
These two proteins simply cannot penetrate the skin. They need to be produced by the body from the inside to do any good. Three of the best remedies for sagging skin are CynergyTK, Nano-Lipobelle H EQ10 and Phytessence Wakame.
They are actually able to stimulate new growth of collagen, elastin and skin cells and prevent hyaluronic acid loss. These three compounds make up the ultimate anti-aging skin care product because they work with your body to treat the root cause of the sagging, wrinkly dull skin.
Some other beneficial ingredients to look for in a sagging skin remedy are Active Makuna Honey, grape seed oil, Maracuja, Babassu, jojoba oil, natural vitamin E and Crodamol OP. These too are natural oils and nutrients that your body can use to nourish, sooth and repair damaged skin.
John Lexon is a dedicated researcher of important issues that affect skin and health. Visit his skincare website now at to discover the that he considers to be the best remedies for sagging skin and recommends after extensive research.

Fit For Life Diet

The Fit For Life diet is based on the theory that combinations of certain foods can improve the digestive and intestinal functions of the body, and therefore lead to weight loss. So should you try it? Does it actually work? Read on to find out.
What does the plan involve?The Fit For Life plan involves eating specific foods at specific times of day. The diet states that the body cannot cope with digesting more than one concentrated food (any food other than fruit and vegetables) at the same time. The wrong combination of food leads to poor digestion and weight gain. The Fit For Life plan separates the day into three distinctive periods: 4am to noon is for the elimination of body waste, noon to 8pm is for eating and digestion, and 8pm to 4am is for absorption and use of the food you've eaten.
Food and recipesUnder the Fit For Life diet, you should eat fruit in the morning, wholemeal bread with soups and vegetables at lunch, and meat and vegetables at dinner. Cooking food is discouraged as it removes water and healthy enzymes. Fruit should be eaten in abundance but never immediately after any other foods.
Does the plan work?Fit For Life is a very low calorie diet so, in theory, if you follow the program you will lose significant weight. However, as with all restrictive diets, the Fit For Life diet will lead to nutritional deficiencies and imbalance if used for more the a week or two. The theories presented involving food combinations and the links between digestion and weight gain have not been proven.